Comments: 16
It's good to hear you're still around! And that was definitely not overexplaining things -- many of us are going through the same, or similar feelings at the moment. Re: "The Art of English Murder" (Lucy Worsley): Maybe you want to join our weekend "forget the pandemic" buddy reads? The next book we'll be tacking (as of tomorrow) is Charles Portis's "True Grit"; the one we'll be reading next weekend is Cyril Hare's "Tenant for Death." We're also thinking about books by the various "Queens of Crime" (Christie, Marsh, Tey, Wentworth, etc.).
If I can get a hold of either of those I'd love to join! XD Thanks very much for thinking of me!
We'd love to have you!
BrokenTune 5 years ago
Hi. don't beat yourself up for being unproductive - this is a weird time and everyone tries to cope with it differently. if your mind and body tell you that you need a time out, then what is wrong with that?

I'd love your thoughts on the books you've read - if you feel like writing them down that is. I enjoyed Dry Storeroom No. 1, and am curious about How to be a Victorian.

Also, I really enoyed the Mapp and Lucia books when I read them at a time of high stress. they are perfect escapism.

Oh, and as TA has mentioned above, we've got a low-intensity, just for fun buddy read going on at the weekends. Anyone who wants to join in is very than welcome.
I'm probably going to do a write-up of reviews for these books in particular maybe over the weekend. (Self-Isolation Reviews maybe?) In regards to How to be a Victorian I LOVED IT. It was uber detailed so if you're into that (I am) then it's a perfect read. Very well researched both from an academic and practical standpoint (she's into making Victorian clothes, wearing them, and living a Victorian lifestyle). I liked it so much I've ordered How to be a Tudor. :-D

PS To be clear, when I say detailed I MEAN detailed. The book is set up like a typical day in the life of a Victorian and begins with the waking up process. The first 30-50 pages are almost exclusively devoted to the morning ablutions and the products used therein. If a lot of detailed descriptions turn you off then this is not the book for you. But for me, the minutiae is what made it is so worthwhile because it was obvious that she had not only done her homework but was passionate about the topic.
BrokenTune 5 years ago
Brilliant. That sounds really good.
Tannat 5 years ago
How to be a Victorian is great!
Have you read How to be a Tudor?
Tannat 5 years ago
How to be a Tudor is even better. Actually, I think that's the one I was thinking of initially, but I read and enjoyed both.
I ordered it but as you know mail is not moving at optimal speed so it's not estimated to arrive until May.
Tannat 5 years ago
Eek.
5 years ago
There's a scientific reason for why so many people are having trouble focusing. There's an article about it here. https://www.vogue.com/article/why-cant-i-read-books-right-now?fbclid=IwAR1Q77QNFhiMLuWqUDuoRs64C6OYjDeEiapk-2e1SHJ1wH8_fUFyngYmd4g
Interesting! And there's a lot of what the author of the article describes that I definitely recognize in myself, too. Judging by the amount of comfort reading going around, I think the same is true for many of us at the moment.
Sounds exactly like what I was experiencing. Good to know there's others out there!
Finishing up The Poet and starting a new Terry McMillian book.
Have you found it hard to focus on certain kinds of books or have you done any rereading of favorites?